Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

We are hiring a Senior Supply Planning Leader with our team who will be responsible for coordinating all material requirements and inventory level to meet our internal needs and customer requirements. We are looking for a thought leader who be able to leverage their experience to influence how our Supply Planning team should work.

As we increase the production level of our Covington site and get ready to start the operations at our future site in Hopkinsville, KY this senior leader will be expected to develop the future Supply Planning team, influence what our processes should look like and start leading the effort. As a young company with a rapid growth trajectory, the ideal candidate is a hands-on leader, self-motivated, with an entrepreneurial mindset, that is strategic and adept to work the details as needed.

Other Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop and lead the Supply Planning process


• Lead the effort of implementing SAP for Supply Planning. A high degree of technical SAP knowledge is not required. We are looking for someone able to influence and work with our implementation partner to develop the Supply Planning process.


• Managing the ordering or raw materials, packaging materials and all the BOM items required for production planning


• Production planning based on site’s capabilities and customer demands


• Develop our future S&OP process


• Influence what the future Supply Planning team should be and manage the hiring processes based on when each new role is required


• Form a team, lead the team


• Monitor supplier performance metrics, such as OTIF, quality, etc.


• Influence and own our inventory strategy and levels


• Anticipate demand for future needs and work with peers to help develop our supply chain


• Resolve any arising problems


• Maintain metrics and analyze data to assess performance and implement improvements to operations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, operations, logistics, business administration, transportation, or engineering


• 10 – 15 years (at least) of professional experience in reputable companies, with many of those years in Supply Chain and in the Chemical industry


• SAP experience required


• Strong team player


• Ability to manage, coach, and provide training for direct reports


• Analytical skills

Physical Requirements:

• Capable of wearing task specific personal protective equipment which may include dust mask, respirator, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection.


• Capable of meeting OSHA standards for manual lifting guidelines: < 50lbs


• While performing the duties of this job it is required to stand, walk, and use hands to operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands or arms; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch when necessary for job activity.


• Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods (minimum of eight hours).


• Must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.

This position will be on-site in Hopkinsville, KY with occasional travel to other AE facilities and customers, up to 15%.

APPLY TODAY!

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Ascend Element is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

As the Supply Chain Manager, you will be responsible for the planning, execution, and improvement of the purchasing, production scheduling, logistics, distribution, and inventory management tasks. You will lead a group of Supply Chain professionals to understand customer demand and translate into a production schedule that maximizes plant capacity while meeting/in-full and working capital requirements. You will also coordinate with corporate supply chain to understand and plan long-term demand forecasts and the impact on plant capacity and inventory levels and work with Operations and Corporate Supply Chain to manage around planned and unplanned outages, relating to raw material supply, production scheduling, and customer supply management. Additionally, you will be responsible for monitoring planned schedule attainment and overages or shortfalls to appropriate supply chain and customer service personnel.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all finished goods inventory (including imported products) at all warehouses (onsite and contracted) to maintain the proper balance in inventory turns vs risk.


• Manage the receiving and handling of bulk chemicals at our tank farm


• Set A B C inventory levels for the various raw materials.


• Ensure safety stocks are maintained for unique customer/product combinations as deemed necessary by sales/supply chain to meet specific customer requirements.


• Ensure inventory levels are reflected in SAP, including proper designations for good and non-conforming material.


• Timely and accurate transactions are required as well as creating and maintaining the cycle count system.


• Communicate with Commercial and Customer Service regarding conflicts or other material shortages which could potentially lead to late shipments and customer nonconformance.


• Coordinate the warehousing of products and incoming/outgoing shipments of Raw and Finished Goods.


• Manage the storage and subsequent shipment of imported products. Support plant and supply chain personnel with monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasting initiatives.


• Responsible for all material movement both external and internal to the site.


• Daily movement of > 30 external truckloads in 2025 and >50 TL in 2026.


• Railspur project slated for 2026/27.


• Work together with supply chain personnel to establish measurements that improve the visibility of supply chain performance and track/support the continuous improvement of the supply chain function.


• Work to increase the understanding of SAP functionality and how it can be used to enhance plant supply chain capabilities or improve efficiency.


• Identify SAP or alternative IT solutions to automate routine tasks which are now completed manually, allowing for more efficient analysis to guide improved business results and enhanced customer satisfaction.


• Manage the local purchasing department consisting of Direct, Indirect, and MRO goods. Negotiate local procurement contracts.


• Scope of the team: MP&L Manager, Buyers, Warehouse Manager, Transportation, Demand/Supply Planners.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Supply Chain and 10+ years of experience working in manufacturing, or 10+ years working in supply chain for chemicals manufacturing.


• Experience in building and managing a high-performance work team.


• Track record in delivering projects.


• Knowledge of SAP and statistical software is desired.

Physical Requirements:

• Capable of wearing task specific personal protective equipment which may include dust mask, respirator, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection.


• Capable of meeting OSHA standards for manual lifting guidelines: < 50lbs


• While performing the duties of this job it is required to stand, walk, and use hands to operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands or arms; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch when necessary for job activity.


• Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods (minimum of eight hours).


• Must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.

#LI-Onsite

Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

Learn more about us in our website and don’t miss our “News & Insights” page, where we (and others!) explain more about our amazing company!

We are looking for a MRO Sourcing Manager to be an individual contributor in the Supply Chain Organization that will be responsible for developing, communicating and executing sourcing events for all MRO category. As Ascend Elements is a growing company, this person will be requested to go beyond the leadership of Sourcing Events, this person will work with key stakeholders to help develop the Indirect strategy and then lead the Sourcing events to support it.

The main focus of this candidate will be to support our future site in Hopkinsville, KY.



Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for leading engagement with the R&D team to map demand for equipment


• Develop strategy for sourcing events and execute the entire process, in partnership with key stakeholders


• Provide sourcing expertise to contribute to the best decision making process on the best suppliers to hire


• Request and analyze requests for proposals and lead negotiation strategy


• Build robust documentation to support the sourcing event and ensure the sourcing even is compliant with requirements, including technical requirements as well as providing fair chance for every potential supplier to earn the business


• Manage spend to identify opportunities and compliance to contract approval strategy


• Ensures a data driven approach to category management


• Ability to develop tailored strategies, such as traditional RFQs leading to contracts for specific purchases as well as working to enable Catalogs if applicable


• Lead activities related to supplier relationship management


• Responsible for tracking and reporting savings.

Essential Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree


• Minimum 10 years of experience in Manufacturing and/or MRO Purchasing in Chemical, Pharma, Battery or Automotive Industry


• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills


• Strong communication skills that will allow for effective oral and written communication with suppliers and internal customers.


• Knowledge of supply chain and materials management principles


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;


• Strong organizational and team-building skills


• SAP and Ariba knowledge will be a considered a plus

Travel Requirements

• Candidate should be able to travel, as a reference, up to 25% of his/her time. Travel requirements might vary based on business needs.

APPLY TODAY!

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

#LI-Remote